Register for help, defence ministry tells 20,000 veterans

KUANTAN: About 20,000 armed forces (ATM) veterans have yet to register with the ATM Veterans Affairs Department (JHEV), said defence minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob.

Ismail said their failure to register with JHEV made it difficult for the armed forces to extend assistance allocated to them.

“Therefore, I have asked the veterans’ association in each district to find out about this group of veterans.

“Every time assistance is given, it is a problem because they (veterans) are not registered and we cannot extend help to them.

“I hope they register immediately as among the factors for not registering may be because they are in the rural areas and so on. We do not have their information.”

Ismail said the defence ministry had also allocated a quota of 30% for children, including the grandchildren of ATM veterans, to study at the Mara Junior Science College (MRSM) ATM-Bera, near here, with applications open now.

Tok Mat calls for calm after Umno-PAS pact shaken by Hadi’s latest remarks

Ismail spoke at a press conference after awarding the Malaysian Service Medal to 295 Pahang ATM veterans.

He said 28,971 veterans had received this medal so far. Other eligible veterans will receive it in the future.

In another development, he said the decision regarding the ruling on interstate travel during Hari Raya Aidilfitri had yet to be decided as all decisions would be based on the advice of the health ministry (MoH).

“We will discuss again because cases in some states under the conditional movement control order (CMCO) have not changed much, such as in Selangor, Sarawak and Penang.

“If MoH says the (Covid-19) cases are stable and interstate travel can be allowed, then permission will be given.

“Similarly, we are still in discussion on the proposal that recipients of both doses of the vaccine should be allowed to travel interstate.”

Asked about PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang’s statement in which he hinted about leaving MN (Muafakat Nasional), Ismail, who is also an Umno vice-president, said all issues related to PAS and Umno would be discussed at MN meetings.

“We will discuss various issues through a meeting held every two weeks. Then we can make a statement.

“Maybe he said something else but what was reported was different from what had been said,” he added.

The media had reported that Hadi hinted he would leave MN because he claimed it had deviated from its basic goal and had asked everyone to join Perikatan Nasional.